Chapter 25 Disguised Call

In the privacy of an alleyway, Shivam reached for his phone, a tool he had to confirm before executing his plan.

Opening the camera app, he scrutinized his reflection, watching intently as his face flickered and distorted before transforming into an unfamiliar visage.

A grin spread across the unfamiliar face on the screen of Shivam's smartphobe as he realized the potential of his new reward.

With a sense of triumph, Shivam tested the limits of his illusionary creator goggles.

Through their power, he could effortlessly alter his appearance, obscuring his true identity from prying eyes and surveillance cameras alike.

As the illusion enveloped him, he knew that he could now make his call without fear of being recognized, his true face concealed behind a cloak of deception.

As he made his way to the telephone booth, he disguised himself as a typical Hindu woman, wearing a vibrant yellow sari.

Ensuring his appearance matched that of a plump figure, he deftly covered her face in the manner of a typical Hindu lady shielding herself from the scorching sun.

With a focused thought, Shivam willed his body to undergo a remarkable transformation.

In an instant, his features shifted and morphed, reshaping into those of a middle-aged woman draped in a traditional sari.

The illusion was so convincing that even Shivam himself could hardly believe it.

As he moved through the bustling streets, blending seamlessly into the throng of pedestrians, Shivam felt a sense of liberation wash over him.

The disguise was flawless, and his every movement was fluid and natural, as if he had been born to inhabit this new identity.

This was only an illusion on the outside, as his true body was stored alongside that illusion woman's body through the help of the goggles.

As he approached the telephone booth, Shivam felt a surge of confidence coursing through him.

With his disguise firmly in place, he entered the booth, the sound of the door closing behind him muffled by the din of the city outside.

As he dialed the number, Shivam prepared to deliver his message, secure in the knowledge that his true identity remained hidden, shrouded in mystery and illusion.

Shivam made the call while on the other side.

—

—

In the hushed ambiance of a renowned restaurant in Mumbai, the late morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the two figures seated at a table.

Aadhavi Shrivastav, her usually steely demeanor softened by the weight of her troubles, sat across from her friend Priyanka Ambekar, who leaned in attentively, her eyes reflecting concern and compassion.

Aadhavi Shrivastav, a sub-inspector with a furrowed brow and troubled expression, sat opposite her friend Priyanka Ambekar, a beacon of empathy and understanding.

Despite the upscale setting, the air between them was heavy with Aadhavi's distress, her shoulders weighed down by the burdens she carried.

With gentle concern etched on her features, Priyanka leaned forward, her voice a soothing balm to Aadhavi's troubled soul.

She listened intently as Aadhavi poured out her worries, her frustrations spilling forth like water from a dam.

As Aadhavi poured out her frustrations to her best friend, Priyanka, her anger radiated from every pore.

She felt a sense of injustice burning deep within her, knowing that she had been removed from a case that she had worked tirelessly to investigate.

Priyanka listened intently, her heart going out to her friend as she witnessed the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.

Despite Priyanka's gentle attempts to offer solace and reason, Aadhavi's resolve remained unshaken.

She was determined to pursue the investigation, even if it meant going against her father's wishes and putting herself in harm's way.

Priyanka understood the depth of Aadhavi's commitment and knew that trying to dissuade her would only lead to further conflict.

As they continued to converse, Priyanka couldn't help but admire Aadhavi's unwavering determination.

She knew that her friend possessed rare courage and tenacity, qualities that had earned her respect and admiration both within and outside the police force.

Despite the risks involved, Priyanka silently vowed to stand by Aadhavi's side, offering her support and friendship every step of the way.

For she knew that when it came to matters of justice and righteousness, there was no force in the world that could sway Aadhavi from her path.

And with Priyanka's unwavering support, Aadhavi felt emboldened to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that she was not alone in her fight for truth and justice.

They were having their own space of talk in the restaurant, which was broken.

As Aadhavi's smartwatch buzzed with the ring of a call, she didn't want to take the call and didn't see it was an unknown number.

With a sharp jab of her finger, she cancelled the call without a second thought, her annoyance evident in the furrow of her brow.

She continued talking.

She assumed the caller would be her colleague Nayak, and she didn't want to have a talk.

But as the smartwatch rang for the second time, Aadhavi's temper flared, her annoyance reaching its breaking point.

With a swift motion, she tapped on the screen of her smartwatch, her voice laced with frustration as she prepared to unleash her pent-up anger on whoever was on the other end of the line.

"Listen, Nayak," she began, her tone firm and uncompromising.

"I've had enough of your incessant calls.

I told you I needed some space today, and yet here you are, interrupting me once again."

But as the voice on the other end of the line responded, As Aadhavi listened to the unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line, her confusion deepened.

It wasn't Nayak calling, as she had suspected, but rather a stranger with a distinctly feminine accent.

Her brow furrowed in bewilderment as she tried to make sense of the unexpected call.

Quickly checking the caller ID on her smartwatch, Aadhavi's eyes widened in surprise as she saw that the call originated from a telephonic booth.

Her smartwatch was still processing the location, attempting to track the exact whereabouts of the booth.

Despite her initial shock, Aadhavi composed herself, her curiosity piqued by the mysterious caller's message.

She listened intently as the woman on the other end spoke, her words jolting Aadhavi's frustrated self into a state of calm attention.

Before Aadhavi had the chance to respond or inquire further, the call abruptly ended, leaving her with more questions than answers.

As the line went silent, Aadhavi couldn't shake the feeling of happiness coursing through her inner self as a smile appeared on her face, from the frustrated self to the "joyful one.

This was a big change, which was seen by Priyanka as the call ended."

(With technological advancements, tracking a caller's location within seconds has become effortless and is only authorized by the law enforcement department.)

As Aadhavi's call ended, a transformation swept over her, replacing her frustration with an unexpected sense of happiness.

Priyanka noticed the change in her friend's demeanor; her smile was a stark contrast to the frustration she had displayed moments earlier.

With a calm tone, Aadhavi addressed Priyanka, revealing that she had something important to attend to and needed to leave early.

Priyanka, taken aback by the sudden shift in plans, couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Aadhavi's change in behavior.

Concern etched on her face, Priyanka gently pressed for more information, wanting to understand the reason behind Aadhavi's abrupt departure.

They both had taken a half day off from work to spend time with her, and the sudden change in plans left Priyanka feeling puzzled and intrigued.

But Aadhavi said it related to the case in which I was investing, the "missing girls" case, and I needed to go right now .

Aadhavi apologized for the last-minute change and promised to make it up to her later.

As Aadhavi's smartwatch successfully obtained the location of the telephone booth, she wasted no time in taking action.

She promptly contacted one of her cyber officers, instructing them to procure the footage from the time and location of the call.

With impressive efficiency, her subordinate swiftly provided her with the camera clip she requested.

As she reviewed the camera footage on her laptop, Aadhavi's brow furrowed in frustration.

The woman in the ordinary yellow sari, her face concealed by the fabric to obscure her identity. left her with more questions than answers.

Despite her best efforts, Aadhavi was unable to glean any substantial information from the footage, leaving her at a loss for how to proceed.

Caught between the possibility of a promising lead and the looming threat of a potential trap, Aadhavi grappled with the decision weighing heavily on her mind.

Despite her request for information from the cyber department, they were unable to provide any results. The individual had effectively concealed her identity by adopting the typical attire and mannerisms of a Hindu woman, making it challenging for authorities to track her down.

She knew that she couldn't afford to dismiss the lead entirely, but she also couldn't ignore the risks involved in pursuing it further.

Aadhavi felt a deep concern for the missing girls, knowing that many similar cases had been overlooked and left unresolved.

As Aadhavi watched the footage of the mysterious phone call, her heart clenched with a mixture of determination and desperation.

She couldn't afford to let this lead slip through her fingers, not when the lives of innocent girls hung in the balance.

The haunting images of their distraught parents pleading for answers fueled her resolve, driving her to push forward despite the obstacles in her path.

Having witnessed the mother's anguish at the station firsthand, Aadhavi couldn't shake off the memory.

Though such situations were common, she couldn't turn a blind eye.

As she contemplated her next steps, a wave of frustration swept over her.

She had been unceremoniously removed from the case, left without any allies to turn to for support.

Calling anyone from the police station, even her colleague Nayak, would only invite unwanted attention from her superiors.

And there were three conditions.

The first condition for Aadhavi or her superior to wear the exoskeleton armor, along with the second condition request for at least 20 other police officers to join them, added a layer of intrigue to the situation.

These conditions were not only unusual but also hinted at the seriousness and potential danger of the mission ahead.

It was clear that fulfilling these demands was crucial to obtaining the lead information in the investigation.

However, the specifics of why Shivam insisted on these conditions remained a mystery, adding to the tension and urgency of the situation.

Aadhavi felt a sense of unease at Shivam's demand, which hinted at potential danger or a threat to her safety.

While she could fulfill the first condition by using her own exoskeleton armor, a gift from her father, the second condition presented a dilemma.

Aadhavi had been removed from the case, and calling for additional officers would risk exposing their conversation and led to complications.

Despite this, Aadhavi couldn't afford to let the opportunity slip by. Determined to make progress, she resolved to fulfill the first condition and set out to do so.

[[The possession of exoskeleton armor by officers below the rank of inspector would indeed be highly unusual, as such advanced equipment is typically reserved for higher-ranking personnel due to its advanced capabilities and features. These armors, equipped with AI features and offering powerful bulletproof protection, are valuable assets that are typically allocated to inspectors and above within the department. And these armors are only provided with a lot of merit to gain authorization to gain such suits.]]

Aadhavi's mind raced with thoughts as her car came to a halt outside her home.

The driver's voice broke through her contemplation, reminding her of her surroundings.

"Madam, we have reached home," he said, his tone expectant.

With a sense of urgency propelling her forward, Aadhavi wasted no time.

She stepped out of the car and into the familiar embrace of her home, her thoughts consumed by the pressing matter at hand.

Unable to seek help from the department, she knew she had to act swiftly to fulfill the second condition.

She couldn't rely on the department for help, but she refused to sit idly by while danger loomed.

With resolve in her heart, she nodded to her driver in acknowledgment.

Moving with purpose, Aadhavi made her way into the house, her mind racing with thoughts of how to fulfill the first condition.

She couldn't afford to alert her family, especially her mother, to the danger she faced.

Silently, she gestured to the guards, ensuring they understood the need for discretion.

As Aadhavi stood in front of the towering shelves that held her father's prized possessions, her gaze fixated on the gleaming exoskeleton armor tucked away among the relics of his career.

It was a testament to her family's status within the department, a symbol of power and protection that she had longed to wield.

But this armor wasn't just a piece of technology; it was a reminder of the barriers she faced in her pursuit of justice.

Despite being a police officer, she received the exosuit as a gift from her father, a token of his faith in her abilities.

However, the stringent regulations and protocols surrounding its use meant that she couldn't simply do it at will.

With a mixture of determination and defiance, Aadhavi modified the armor to bypass the restrictions.

Leveraging her status as a sub-inspector and the influence of her family through some connection, she was able to bypass the restrictions.

Though her father had warned her against using it without authorization, he had also imparted a crucial lesson: in times of dire need, rules could be bent and boundaries crossed.

[[The memory of her father's demeanor when he gave her the exoskeleton suit remained vivid in Aadhavi's mind. She could feel his concern for her safety as she embarked on a career in law enforcement, a path fraught with danger. The gift symbolized his Hindure to protect her with the best available means, a gesture she would never forget. On the day she joined the police department, receiving the suit was not just an act of generosity; it was a profound expression of paternal love and concern for her well-being.]]

As Aadhavi stood before the exoskeleton suit, memories flooded her mind, carrying her back to the day her father had gifted it to her.

She could still feel the weight of his concern, the subtle tremor in his hands as he handed her the suit.

In his eyes, she saw a father's worry, a silent plea to keep her safe amidst the dangers that lurked in her chosen profession.

As she reached out to retrieve the armor from its resting place, a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins.

This was her first time donning the exoskeleton, a forbidden act that defied her father's wishes.

But, in the face of danger, there was no room for hesitation.

With a steely resolve, Aadhavi strapped on the armor, feeling its weight settle around her like a protective shield.